Hand-carved Armchair c. 1937

Here we have a watercolor painting of a hand-carved armchair, made by Gerald Transpota sometime between 1855 and 1995. There's a softness to it, a gentle approach to representing form and texture, everything's been rendered with an eye for the way light plays across the different materials. I like the way the artist hasn't been too precious or overly cautious; the colors and tones blend into one another, which gives the work a sense of cohesion. Look at the detail in the woodwork. It's precise, but there's also an element of playful looseness to it. See how the artist allows the brush to move freely, how the grain of the wood is subtly indicated? I think that it's this quality which prevents the piece from feeling overly rigid or staged. It's reminiscent of some of the watercolors of furniture and interiors by Fairfield Porter, but with an added folksiness. Both artists share a sense of intimacy and attentiveness, a feeling of genuine connection to the objects they represent. Art's an ongoing conversation across time; it's a constant exchange of ideas.